Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: odontogenic infection: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: odontogenic infection

Sample item

A man has a fluctuant, tender swelling over the mandible with a necrotic lower molar. He is given antibiotics but remains febrile. Which step matters most for cure?

ASystemic corticosteroidsBWarm saline rinses aloneCDrainage of pus and removal of the source toothDHigher antibiotic doses alone

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Drainage of pus and removal of the source tooth

Odontogenic abscesses need source control, meaning drainage of pus and treatment or extraction of the offending tooth. Antibiotics are adjuncts.

Option by option

A. Systemic corticosteroids
Steroids suppress immunity and do not treat the abscess.
B. Warm saline rinses alone
Rinses are soothing but cannot drain a deep abscess.
C. Drainage of pus and removal of the source tooth (correct)
Correct. Source control is the key principle.
D. Higher antibiotic doses alone
Antibiotics cannot penetrate a pus collection adequately.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Drainage of pus and removal of the source tooth. Odontogenic abscesses need source control, meaning drainage of pus and treatment or extraction of the offending tooth.

Why is "Systemic corticosteroids" not the answer?

Steroids suppress immunity and do not treat the abscess.

Why is "Warm saline rinses alone" not the answer?

Rinses are soothing but cannot drain a deep abscess.

Why is "Higher antibiotic doses alone" not the answer?

Antibiotics cannot penetrate a pus collection adequately.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: odontogenic infection in Dentistry. Antibiotics are adjuncts.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: odontogenic infection?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.